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Keep Away the PestsWednesday, May 18, 2016

The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and the pests are back. The slugs, the snails, and the beetles can all cause harm to your garden and landscaping. These little pests can cause big problems in the long run, so it is best to be aware of warning signs, and act quickly to deter them.

Pests to Lookout For:

Aphids

These are the small green bugs that love to eat the sap and nutrients from the leaves of your favorite plants. These small pests can transmit disease-causing plant viruses to their host. If you do not want plants with stunted growth, curled leaves, or wilting, you’ll need to thwart their efforts as soon as possible.A home remedy for these pesky little things is a citrus spray. Simply grate the rind of a lemon and combine it with 2 cups of boiling water. Let it sit overnight so that the water can extract the citrus from the rinds, and then strain the water into a spray bottle. Make sure to remove as many rind shavings as possible to not clog the spray nozzle. Simply spray the leaves where the aphids are causing the problem. They tend to hang out on the underside. Repeat on a weekly basis until the pests are gone!

Slugs

We all know these little rascals. They are slow-moving, but can take down your garden fast. If these little guys are ignored, they will kill your plants faster than they can grow, even the largest of plants. They expose your garden and make them vulnerable to rotting and disease.

One thing surprising about slugs – they have a drinking problem. That’s right, slugs love beer, and you can use that to your gardens advantage.

Snails

The slug’s cousin, the snail, will do much of the same damage as the slug, but are a little more difficult to stop. An easy way to protect your garden: water your garden in the morning then place a board on the damp soil. The snails love the moisture of the soil and will move to the damp soil protected by the board. Come back to it at night, and scrap the critters away from your landscape.

Taking care of these pests can be painless, and very easy, it just takes a little effort. But preserving your landscaping is worth the trouble.

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